Blackboard Collaborate

Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing

Blackboard Collaborate’s web conferencing tool gives you the functionality you need to support online, synchronous meetings including two-way audio, multi-point video, interactive whiteboard, application and desktop sharing, rich media, breakout rooms, and session recording all within your Blackboard courses.

For more information about Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing, please visit Blackboard Collaborate On-Demand Learning Center. Contact Blackboard Collaborate Technical Support with any issues.

Jump to Starting Your Session or Session Layout and Tools

QUICK STEPS: Creating a web conference session in your course

1. Within your course, select the blue plus-sign from the Course Menu and select Create Tool Link.

 Select Create Tool Link

2. Enter a name for the Collaborate Tool Link and select Blackboard Collaborate Scheduling Manager Test from the drop-down list.

 Session Name and Collaborate Scheduling Manager

3. Select the Available to Users checkbox and click the Submit button to save your changes.

 Select Available Users

4. Select the Collaborate Tool Link that you created to display the Collaborate tool.

5. Click the Create Session button.

 Create Session

6. Select your options in the following in the Create Session page:

  • Name: Defaults to the course name but can be overridden.
  • Session Type: Limit the session to the selected course or share with other courses in which you are the Instructor.
  • Date: Set the availability dates for the session.
  • Early Session entry: Limits how early participants can enter a session.
  • Repeat Session: Allows for recurring sessions.
  • Optional Settings: Each setting lists a short description.

7. Click Submit to create your session.

 Select Options for Create Session Page
Jump to Quick Steps or Session Layout and Tools

Starting Your Session

1. Click the session name to launch the session.

 Create Session

2. When prompted, download the get.session.link.jnlp file upon the launch of each session. Once the file has downloaded, double-click to join the session.

 Download get.session.link.jnlp

3. The first time you launch a session on a particular computer, you will be asked to set your internet connection speed. This is important because setting the incorrect connection speed (either higher or lower) may result in poor performance.

 Setting Internet Connection Speed

Select from the following connection types:

  • 28.8K Dialup, 33.6K Dialup, 56K Dialup: 28.8K modem, 33.6K modem, 56K modem respectively
  • ISDN: High-speed dedicated telephone connection
  • Wireless: Wireless connection (e.g. Uverse, not physically plugged into a modem)
  • Cable/DSL: High-speed cable connection or Digital Subscriber Line (e.g. Time Warner, physically plugged into a modem)
  • LAN: Local Area Network (e.g. on UTA’s campus and not using wireless)

Jump to Quick Steps or Starting Your Session

Session Layout and Tools

Picture Illustrating Collaborate Setup and Tools

  • Click the Talk button to connect your microphone
  • Click the Video button to connect your webcam
  • Grant global tool privileges to participants
  • Grant individual tool privileges (such as a mic rights) to participants
  • Share Whiteboard/Whiteboard Tools
  • Begin Application Sharing
  • Begin Web Tour
  • Share a file for participants to download or display a PowerPoint
  • Record your session
  • Close the window to end your session